Chief People & Culture Officer
About The Position
This role involves leading the People & Culture team, providing support, clarity, and direction. The Chief People & Culture Officer aligns with the CEO and executive team on organizational priorities, upcoming changes, and sensitive people-related decisions. Responsibilities include coaching managers through performance conversations and team dynamics, refining performance management, strengthening onboarding, and designing leadership development initiatives. A key focus is ensuring culture is intentional and embedded across the organization by reviewing employee feedback, identifying engagement/retention patterns, and partnering with leaders to address root causes. The role also involves strategic planning for the people function, anticipating future needs, and developing capabilities. It requires balancing big-picture vision with real-time decision-making, guiding change, strengthening systems, and supporting leaders through challenging moments.
Requirements
- At least seven years of progressive leadership experience in human resources, people operations, or organizational leadership.
- Executive-level responsibility.
- Relevant degree and an HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or GPHR, or equivalent experience.
- Proven ability to design and implement enterprise-wide people strategies aligned with organizational goals.
- Extensive experience in organizational development, culture transformation, and leadership development.
- Ability to balance HR fundamentals with a willingness to challenge outdated practices.
- A people-first mindset and a genuine interest in the future of work.
- Ability to rethink systems as well as maintain them.
- Ability to bring a point of view and the confidence to share it.
- Ability to lead with both empathy and directness.
- Ability to hold a hard conversation with care, give feedback that lands, and help leaders navigate complexity.
- Skilled developer of people and teams.
- Ability to see strengths in individuals, invest in them deliberately, and help a small, high-performing team grow.
- Strong knowledge of employment law, compliance, and HR best practices.
- Demonstrated ability to influence at the executive level.
- Ability to lead through complexity and change.
- Polished, fast-moving, and built for a senior leadership environment.
- Ability to keep pace with a CEO who moves quickly.
- Ability to contribute meaningfully in executive conversations.
- Ability to represent the People & Culture function with credibility and presence.
Nice To Haves
- Experience preferably in an association, nonprofit, or mission-driven organization.
Responsibilities
- Connect with the People & Culture team to identify support needs and orient around priorities.
- Align with the CEO and executive team on organizational priorities, upcoming changes, and people-related decisions.
- Coach managers through performance conversations and complex team dynamics.
- Refine performance management practices.
- Strengthen onboarding experiences.
- Design leadership development initiatives.
- Ensure culture is intentional and embedded across the organization.
- Review employee feedback and identify patterns in engagement or retention.
- Partner with leaders to address root causes of issues.
- Translate values into action, ensuring clear and consistent expectations.
- Plan for the future of the people function, including team capabilities and organizational needs.
- Guide change, strengthen systems, and support leaders through challenging moments.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
